HEBRON, Ohio - At National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Brandon Booher collected his third straight victory and took a commanding lead for the 2013 North Central championship in Top Alcohol Dragster and Andy Bohl won for the second time this season and assumed the favorite's role for the North Central Top Alcohol Funny Car title.

Booher, who never won a race until last month, padded his lead with a close final-round decision over Marty Thacker, who now has three final-round appearances this year. Thacker delivered by far his best run of the weekend, 5.48, and Booher his slowest, 5.46, but Booher's 5-mph better speed, 266 to 261, made for a car-length lead at the finish line.

"I had no shift light that time and got on the limiter a little bit on the 1-2 shift," Booher said. "For a second there, I was thinking, 'Where's the light? Where's the light?' but I guess I still ran good enough to win."

Booher made his best run of the weekend, 5.41, to take out Ken Perry in one semifinal match, and Thacker won the other on a holeshot over Dreher, 5.58 to 5.51, which left him at a considerable disadvantage for the final. Thacker, who won Columbus four times in the 2000s, picked up a tenth but fell just short, 5.46 to 5.48.

"Last month, I had nothing but bills and computers on my desk, and now I've got three Wallys sitting there," Booher said. "I'm really getting used to winning. People keep telling me they thought I'd be more excited after I won, but I always saw the potential in this torque converter. It's not like, 'OMG.' It's more like 'finally.' I'm not going to say I always thought this would happen, but I'm competitive to the nth degree, so maybe I did. The way I look at it, we could have won the first two [Indy and Norwalk], too."

Booher now is a prohibitive favorite for the North Central Top Alcohol Dragster crown, and with his latest win, Bohl moved into a tie with yearlong leader Chris Foster in Top Alcohol Funny Car and with fewer races claimed and more in-division points has the upper hand.

Bohl, who opened the regional season with a victory at Indy, qualified No. 1 and won the final with a 5.78 over Brian Harvanek, who shut off to a 7.49. "That's the first time I've ever run the table – No. 1 qualifier, low e.t., and top speed," said Bohl, who had low e.t. and top speed not just of the event but of every round.

Bohl paced the field in qualifying with a 5.736, just thousandths ahead of Harvanek's nearly identical 5.739, and made the only run all weekend in the 5.60s, a 5.68, on a first-round single. "Having nobody in the other lane gave me a chance to go for it," he said. "It also gave me lane choice for the semifinals, and at this race that was really important because it was absolutely a one-lane racetrack."

Harvanek won the first round over Steve Franke, who was making his first appearance of the season, and the semifinals over Lance Van Hauen, who has gone rounds at his last several events, with a 5.719. Bohl beat Foster in the other semi in a race crucial to the North Central standings, 5.710 to 5.76, closing the gap on Foster and gaining lane choice for the final.

Harvanek, who has been to at least one final for four consecutive years, produced the best reaction time of the entire event in the final, but veered toward both the centerline and the wall and had to lift. "I saw him out there and just hoped he couldn't make it stick in that lane," said Bohl, who drove through shake for the 5.78 win. "You hate to just leave the car alone, but sometimes that's the smartest thing you can do and it won me the race."

In Comp Eliminator, Chuck Haubiel, Gahanna, Ohio, worked his way through the field and ran 8.302 seconds at 162.04 mph in his final round victory over Greg Kamplain, Brownsburg, Ind., who clocked in at 8.054 seconds, 152.83 mph.

Jerry Albert, Avon, Ohio, faced off against Lester Johnson, Cynthiana, Ky. and posted a winning run of 7.313 seconds, 142.54 mph in Top Sportsman. Johnson drove to a 10.201 second, 87.38 mph lap for his runner up finish.

HEBRON, Ohio – Day two is complete and fields were set for the Buckeye Fuel Wars NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at National Trail Raceway. Saturday's action was highlighted by the series premier Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars that took to the track for final qualifying in preparation for Sunday's eliminations.

Racing starts up at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. Tickets are $20 for adults, children 6-12 are just $5 and kids 5 and under are free with a paid adult. For more information please call National Trail Raceway (740) 928-5706 or visit www.nationaltrailraceway.com.

The following are Saturday's results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Buckeye Fuel Wars event at National Trail Raceway:

The following are Saturday's final qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, North Central Division Buckeye Fuel Wars:

HEBRON, Ohio – The National Hot Rod Association is at National Trail Raceway this weekend for the Buckeye Fuel Wars and the fourth of six events for the NHRA North Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Racing kicked off today with qualifying and time trials for more than 500 racers in 10 different classes battling it out on the quarter mile for both championship points and their share of the event purse and contingency payouts. Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car classes each made initial qualifying hits today along with qualifying and time trials for all other classes in competition.

This weekend also plays host to the NHRA Harley-Davidson Drag Racing Series featuring the Top Fuel and Pro Dragster classes as well as competition in Pro Gas, Draggin' Bagger, Street Pro and Hot Street.

Qualifying and time trials will continue on Saturday for all categories. The day will be highlighted by a pair of qualifying session for each of the Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars at 1 and 5 p.m. along with round 1 of eliminations for several classes. The division's Spitzer Racecars Top Dragster and Brodix/Steve Schmidt Top Sportsman classes will also qualify twice on Saturday.

Tickets are $20 Saturday and Sunday, children 6-12 are $5 each day and kids 5 and under are free with a paid adult. For more information please call National Trail Raceway (740) 928-5706 or visit www.nationaltrailraceway.com.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, North Central Division Buckeye Fuel Wars:

HEBRON, Ohio - National Trail Raceway will host the North Central division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' Buckeye Fuel Wars on July 19-21. The event is the fourth of six events in the North Central Division and one of 44 scheduled across the country where drivers earn points leading to divisional, regional and national championships as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $519,000. Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The division's Brodix/Steve Schmidt Top Sportsman Series, Spitzer Race Cars Top Dragster Series, and Pro Stock Snowmobile will also be run in conjunction with the event.

Gates at National Trail Raceway open at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and Sunday at 7.a.m.Qualifying and time trials start Friday morning at 10 a.m. and continue Saturday at 9 a.m.Top Dragster, Top Sportsman and Comp Eliminator will qualify once on Friday, at 2:30 p.m., and twice on Saturday, at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car will qualify Friday, at 4 p.m. and Saturday, at 1 and 5 p.m.Eliminations start Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car will round one is at noon.

Tickets for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at National Trail Raceway are $10 Friday, $20 Saturday and $20 Sunday. Children 6 to 12 years old are $5 each day and children 5 and under are admitted free.

National Trail Raceway is located on U.S. Highway 40 between Highway 158 (exit 122) and Highway 37 (exit 126) off of Interstate 70, east of Columbus.For more information call the track, (740) 928-5706, or visit www.NationalTrailRaceway.com.

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES: Fact Sheet

WHAT: NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Buckeye Fuel Wars the fourth of six events in North Central Division competition where drivers earn points leading to divisional, regional and national championships as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $519,000. Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The division's Brodix/Steve Schmidt Top Sportsman Series and Spitzer Race Cars Top Dragster Series will run in conjunction with the event as well the Pro Stock Snowmobiles.

WHERE: National Trail Raceway, Hebron, Ohio. Track is located on U.S. Highway 40 between Highway 158 (exit 122) and Highway 37 (exit 126) off of Interstate 70, east of Columbus.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, July 19-21, 2013

SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, July 19 - Gates open at 8 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at 10 a.m. Top Dragster, Top Sportsman and Comp Eliminator qualify at 2:30 p.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualify at 4 p.m.

SATURDAY, July 20 - Gates open at 8 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at 9 a.m. Top Dragster, Top Sportsman and Comp Eliminator qualify at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualify at 1 and 5 p.m.

SUNDAY, July 21 - Eliminations continue at 8:30 a.m. Round 1 for Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car begin at noon.

TICKETS: GENERAL ADMISSION/PIT PASS - $10 Friday, $20 Saturday, $20 Sunday. Children 6-12 are $5 each day. Children 5 and under are free with paid adult. For more information please call National Trail Raceway, (740) 928-5706, or visit www.NationalTrailRaceway.com.

BONUS PROGRAMS: NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS FUND: a $519,000 point fund from Lucas Oil, which will be shared by 2013 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional, regional and national champions. Regional awards include $10,000 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions with Divisional awards of $3,000 to the champions in both Competition and Super Stock; $2,000 each to the champions in Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The seven national champions will share a bonus of $135,000.

JEGS ALLSTARS: The best of the best from each of NHRA's seven divisions will compete for a share of the $119,000 point fund from Jegs High Performance. The 2014 Jegs Allstars event will culminate a year-long points battle between drivers in each of NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' eight classes as well as Top Sportsman and Top Dragster. The top points earner in each category will qualify to represent his/her division at the 2014 Jegs Allstars. Points are based on in-division races only.

The winning division and regional teams will share $25,000 and individual awards include $7,000 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions, $6,000 to champions in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock, $5,000 to Top Sportsman and Top Dragster champions, and $4,500 to the Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street champions. Runners-up in all categories will earn $2,000 apiece. Each Allstars competitor will also receive a share of a $25,000 towing fund to get to the event.

Event sponsor, Jegs High Performance, is offering a "double up" bonus to Jegs Allstars participants. Any 2013 Jegs Allstars champion who also wins the national event will have his/her Allstars prize doubled.

DRAW/RFC Super Eliminator Shootouts presented by Moser Engineering: The top 8 qualifiers in Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street compete in special Shootouts presented by Moser Engineering that benefit DRAW (Drag Racing Association of Women) and RFC (Racers For Christ). Qualifying and eliminations take place on Friday.

SPITZER RACE CARS TOP DRAGSTER CLASS: Run in conjunction with the Lucas Oil Series, competitors in the Spitzer Race Cars Top Dragster class are vying for division championships and a share in the $3,200 event purse as well as points leading to a divisional championship. Top Dragster racers may earn points at the six North Central Division Lucas Oil events as well as the NHRA Jegs Northern SPORTSnationals. Points may also be earned at other NHRA division Top Sportsman series events.

BRODIX/STEVE SCHMIDT TOP SPORTSMAN CLASS: Run in conjunction with the Lucas Oil Series, competitors in the Brodix/Steve Schmidt Top Sportsman Class are vying for division championships and a share in the $4,400 event purse plus contingency awards as well as points leading to a divisional championship and a year-end purse of $4,500. Top Sportsman racers may earn points at the six North Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events as well as the NHRA Jegs Northern SPORTSnationals and the NHRA Doorslammer National Open. Points may also be earned at other NHRA out-of-division Top Sportsman series events.

MOSER SPORTSMAN SHOOTOUT: Drivers who compete in seven NHRA sportsman classes will be eligible to participate in a new sportsman shootout program sponsored by Moser Engineering. Moser Engineering Sportsman Shootout qualifying points will be earned by competitors in Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Top Dragster and Top Sportsman at each North Central Division NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event. The Moser Sportsman Shootout will be held at the 2013 JEGS Northern SPORTSnationals with a posted purse of $15,000, with the winner taking home up to $5,000.